Anyone skilled in augury or animal behavior/diseases?

[wickerwoman]

I woke up this morning and let the dog out and the first thing he did was rush to a robin that was lying dead on the stoop. I called him away and then I noticed a second robin lying about three feet from my back door staring at the first robin and kind of rocking back and forth (definitly alive but she didn't fly away when the dog ran at her.)

What should I do? I'd like to clear away the dead bird and help the living one if it doesn't involve too much expense but I'd rather not contract any strange diseases (the dead robin doesn't have any visible injuries on the top part of her body, but there is blood coming out of the bottom side of her head- no visible injuries on the live robin either) or get attacked. Is there some organization I can call in the greater Seattle area to help these birds?

And what does it mean? :-)

[roguevalley]

1. Use gloves.

Put it in a box in a warm place and call your animal shelter and
see if there is a vet or doctor that is licensed to take in wild
birds and treat them.

I routinely give sick birds to our local licensed aviary specialist
and they take them. Keeping it warm and safe right now is your best
bet. Also, place water with them. If they drink, they have a chance.
An aviary vet is your best bet. They usually take a bird from you
and take care of it.

Good luck, hon.

[MuseRider]

2. Don't know about the blood

perhaps the Robin was ill and hit the door. I would worry about West Nile in the bird that did not fly away. Perhaps that is why the other Robin hit the door if that is what happened. Always use gloves for protection against bites or pecks and against parasites. Better call someone and have them check it out.

[Shakespeare]

3. Call someone in your town RE west nile virus

The dead birds don't really pose much threat to you if they're infected (but watch out for mosquitos), but your city may want to test the birds for the disease. I'm not sure who would handle this--I'd start with your city health department first, and if it's not them, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

[Snow]

5. You got it!

Your friendly neighborhood county/town/state health dept will want to hear about this, and they'll be thinking West Nile. If not them, then the state ag/vet school. This is bad news for horses & cattle.

[elfin]

4. Call local natural history museum, college bio instructor

if you don't have a DNR office number. Usually it is crows that I think of with Nile - but it could others.

Perhaps they flew into a window? They can get "drunk" on fermenting berries in the Fall.

Put in plastic zip baq and freeze - take in cooler to whoever will take it.